Veteran filmmaker Jim Jarmusch debuted his latest project “Father Mother Sister Brother” at the esteemed Venice Film Festival. During the event, journalists questioned him about Mubi, the streaming platform that co-produced the film. This followed Mubi’s recent $100 million funding round led by Sequoia Capital.
Jarmusch expressed mixed feelings about the partnership, acknowledging Mubi’s support throughout the film’s production. However, he admitted feeling unsettled by the association with the recent funding round.
A group of filmmakers, some affiliated with Mubi, penned an open letter denouncing the streaming service for accepting funds from Sequoia Capital. They raised concerns about Sequoia’s involvement with an Israeli defense tech startup, Kela, linking Mubi’s financial growth to controversial military activities.
During the press conference for his film, Jarmusch distanced himself from Mubi’s controversies, emphasizing his role as an independent filmmaker who secures funding from various sources. He criticized the notion of all corporate funding being tainted, highlighting the complexities of financing artistic endeavors.
